Sulfonic acid functionalized SBA-15 as a nanoporous acid catalyst was used in the synthesis of 2-Aryl benzoxazoles 4 by the condensation of 2-aminophenol 1 and benzoyl chlorides 2 under microwave irradiation in solvent free reaction conditions. The advantages of this methodology are good product yields (60-98%), being environmentally benign, short reaction times and easy work up.

Correspondence: David S. Goodsell, Ph.D., The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Molecular Biology, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA. Telephone: 858-784-2839; Fax: 858-784-2860; e-mail: [email protected] Web site: http://www.scripps.edu/pub/goodsell Received January 13, 2006; accepted for publication January 13, 2006. ©AlphaMed Press 10837159/2006/$20.00/...

Using a readily available form of the mono-phosphine ligand, Gorlos-Phos·HBF4, Pd-catalyzed borylation of aryl chlorides afforded aryl boronates in high yields. A variety of functional groups are well compatible with this palladium catalyzed borylation reaction.

Here we report a simple procedure for generating colorimetric histone deacetylase (HDAC) substrates by solid-phase peptide synthesis based on racemization-free couplings of amino acid chlorides. We demonstrate the applicability of these substrates in HDAC assays.

Arylsulfonates of hindered secondary alcohols are converted to the corresponding alkyl chlorides very rapidly and in good yields in the presence of titanium tetrachloride at low temperatures. These reactions proceed with exclusive retention of configuration.

A palladium-catalyzed method for the preparation of sulfonamides is described. The process exhibits significant functional group tolerance and allows for the preparation of a number of arylsulfonyl chlorides and sulfonamides under mild conditions.

Voluminous amides were coupled with deactivated, sterically hindered aryl chlorides in excellent yields providing products, which have not been efficiently accessible by transition metal catalysis so far. Application of an unsymmetric bisphosphine ligand was critical for the high catalytic activity.

The Ni-catalyzed coupling of allyl chlorides and enynes has been developed; the cyclization of enynes was triggered by the addition of pi-allylnickel species to the alkyne part, followed by the incorporation of the alkene part.